The Top 10 Most Penn State Things to Instagram

Instagram is really good at making us look like we have photographic talent. You can take a photo of just about anything, slap a filter on that bad boy, enhance the brightness, and you’ve got yourself something cool to stare at for several seconds (don’t we know it).

Monuments or often-photographed spots also owe Instagram some thanks, because it’s made them look artsy as hell. Penn State’s signature spots are no exception. So here are the unscientific top 10 things Instagrammed by Penn State students, based off of some random mix of frequency and Penn State-ness:

1o. THON e-mail notifying you that you’re dancing

(Photo: @liz_lotz)

Yeah. Gotta let everyone know the second it happens, witha filter that makes the part saying you’re dancing more accentuated than the rest of the Insta. Vital part of THON.

9. Arboretum

(Photo: @pennstateuniversity)

If you stay at Penn State for a summer and don’t go to the Arboretum, you’re missing out. If you do go but don’t Instagram anything, you’re missing out even more.

8. You with Joe Paterno’s Statue

(Photo: @bortzy67)

Admittedly, these were a lot more common when the statue still stood, and got a lot of play during the scandal times. Now, they mostly appear on #tbt. Accompanying hashtags about Paterno’s legacy are a necessity, such as #409Forever or #LegendsNeverDie.

7. Canning trips

(Photo: @potaret)

Does the money you make canning count toward the THON total if you don’t Instagram about the trip? Many species of the canning Instas exist: jumping in the air with can in hand, posing with committee, announcing how much you’ve raised, getting a photo with someone famous you met while canning…indeed, these are staples.

6. Your pre-game/party

In lieu of embedding an Insta of your pregame and possibly making your parents wonder what they’ve done, I advise you to scroll to your timeline on Saturday or Sunday afternoon. That’s when these Instas generally pour in with vigor after people have woken up, and there are a heck of a lot of ‘em. This is another varied species. For pregames, you’ve got the group pose, the shot glasses, the chugging, the beer bonging, the walking to the party. For the party itself, there’s really no limit to what you might see.

5. Allen Street

(Photo: @pa_prep)

Now we’re getting into the good stuff. Allen Street is unique because you only really see it on your feed around Christmastime, but you see it a whole lot. The Allen Street Grille/Corner Room area attracts a lot of iPhone cameras, as does the giant Christmas tree at the bottom of the gates. If you get them both in one shot, as does the one above, you’ve got a slam dunk.

4. Beaver Stadium

(Photo: @nolanmarcks)

My favorite member of this list. Beaver Stadium Instas are awesome, especially ones of whiteouts. There’s probably many posted after every game, but videos of “We Are…” chants do not get old.

3. Lion Shrine

(Photo: @coreyyrutledge)

Though it’s the second-most photographedspot in the state, it’s only the third-Statest thing to Instagram on this campus, according to me. The recently renovated lion appears all the time, accompanied by graduates in cap and gown, families, student groups, and the like. So stately.

2. THON

(Photo: luissantiagoo)

Is there a more Insta-genic thing ever created than THON? It’s colorful, crowded and people are wearing all sorts of crazy stuff. Throughout THON’s 46 hours, you could Instagram the line outside, the first line dance, Four Diamonds kids, dancers, the crowd, the performances, the speakers and the sports teams without breaking a sweat. And the reveal? Game over. Facebook and Twitter headers until spring break. If you want to improve that personal brand, THON is your answer.

1. Old Main

You probably knew this was #1 when you read the headline. I mean, there is simply never a bad time to Instagram Old Main. Beautiful weather? Instagram Old Main!

(Photo: @mlgood13)

Shitty weather? Instagram Old Main!

(Photo: @kgeiser)

Up close? Instagram Old Main!

(Photo: @eandrews51192)

Far away? Instagram Old Main!

(Photo: @juliamkern)

On top of Old Main? INSTAGRAM FROM ON TOP OF OLD MAIN!

(Photo: @pennstateuniversity)

You get my point. The most underrated part about the Old Main Insta: You can pick any bit of lyrics from the Alma Mater, use it as the caption, and it will work. Guaranteed likes.

About Author

Former Managing Editor of this site, now just makes lots of #content for it from the Phyrst’s Table 69. Senior from Philadelphia. First-generation Penn Stater. I might go to law school after this, but I might not, too. “For the Glory” is in my email signature because I’m a douche. tim@onwardstate.com is my email if you want to tell me why I suck. Alternatively, you can call me out on Twitter @OlGilb.